Mohammad Moazzeni, head of Shiraz University in Fars, made the offer to students demonstrating against Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza, Iranian state-owned outlet Press TV reports.
One of Iran’s most prestigious universities is offering scholarships to US students who have been expelled for taking part in pro-Palestinian protests.
Mohammad Moazzeni, head of Shiraz University in Fars, made the offer to students demonstrating against Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza, Iranian state-owned outlet Press TV reports.
“Students and even professors who have been expelled or threatened with expulsion can continue their studies at Shiraz University and I think that other universities in Shiraz as well as Fars Province are also prepared [to provide the conditions],” he said, according to the outlet.
US students have been facing arrest or dismissal from their colleges over their actions in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, with many students also calling for their universities to divestment from companies that are supporting Israel.
The Iranian regime backs Hamas against Israel, which has killed at least 34,000 people in its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Israel launched continuous strikes and a ground invasion of the enclave as it vowed to destroy Hamas for its October 7 attacks which left at least 1,200 people dead, with some 250 taken hostage.
Moazzeni added that he was “announcing Shiraz University’s decision to offer scholarships to students expelled from European and American universities.”
Shiraz University has been approached for comment.
Dueling groups of protesters clashed Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school while inspiring others.
After a couple of hours of scuffles between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators at UCLA, police wearing helmets and face shields formed lines and slowly separated the groups. That quelled the violence, and the scene was calm as day broke.